“For a man to conquer himself is the first and noblest of all victories.” – PLATO
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Well, what do you know?
If the premises on which the cleansing within the PNP ranks indicate anything, it is the stark harsh truth that ninja cops (scalawags in police uniform as the media label them) never left the dug terrain.
After the initial presscon DILG Sec. Benhur Abalos, in succeeding news reports, disclosed that about 3 to 4% of the estimated 900 plus colonels and generals that were asked to submit courtesy resignations are said to be involved in the illegal drugs trade.
Mathematical calculations would place that estimate to be between 30 to 40 PNP officers.
The PNP cleansing is the result of a privilege speech by Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa sometime ago who was the implementer of ex-Pres. Duterte’s tokhang campaign.in the previous administration.
According to press dispatches, more than 60% of the subject cleansing have already submitted their courtesy letters, led by the PNP chief himself DG Rodolfo Azurin.
A five man committee will vet the records and 201 files of each of the officers concerned. The resignation letters of those found to have shady records and identified with proven association drug lords and illegal drugs activities will be accepted and forthwith undergo the legal procedural process that will convict them for their crimes.
Those who are found clean – will be reinstated back to their positions. This is the understanding of the DILG message.
Question: Does the DILG cleansing method not violate human rights, including the constitutional right to due process?
Sec. Abalos has publicly admitted that this is a “short cut” in effectively purging the PNP of hoods and thugs in their ranks after several arrests and buy busts netted several huge catches of illegal drugs amounting in the billions.
This admission and the consequent discoveries and arrests validated the privilege speech of Sen. Dela Rosa for the BBM government to continue the illegal drugs campaign of the previous administration which put the drug lords and their network on the run.
But I suspect the drug syndicates – obviously now united – and their alleged cohorts in the PNP will use their huge treasure trove to hire the best legal minds, not only to delay and buy time but also to prove their dirty point that justice in our country has its price.
So, we think it is an uphill battle for the DILG because citizens of this republic have long acknowledged the compartmentalized justice existing in our midst: one for the poor and underprivileged and one for the rich and the powerful.
Without necessarily alluding to the recent acquittal of the son of SOJ Jesus Crispin Remulla of illegal drugs possession, Filipinos realize the many legal loopholes in our justice system.
But give credit to the defense lawyers whose job it is to toil hard for the acquittal of their clients.
Remember, a person accused of a crime is always presumed innocent.
But I am excited and thrilled that the DILG and the PNP today are consolidating their efforts to make our lives safe and free from harm from these criminal elements who want to destroy the moral fiber of our society.
Citizens are looking forward to a string of criminal cases to be subsequently filed against the colonels and generals found to have criminal tie ups with illegal drug lords.
With the backing and imprimatur of PBBM, we cannot see how Abalos will fall short of his goal.
Next on the agenda should be ideally the creation or installation of a special court that will tackle the illegal drug cases to speed up the prosecution process.
I reckon the Supreme Court will be receiving volumes of requests for legal clarifications from various law
firms who will be representing clients that will be heretofore tagged as “protectors and associates” of illegal drug lords.
I am reminded of the sorry and horrendous state of affairs in Mexico, Colombia and one or two South American countries involved in the illegal drugs trafficking.
Their respective governments are having a difficult time prosecuting arrested drug lords because the latters’ criminal network extends even to higher authorities, including judges and military authorities.
If I know, Abalos has extensive knowledge of the above situation and I reckon he does not want to have nightmares in case he does not perform his job as required.
I empathize. (Email feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!
